The popular Frenchman loses his final match at a Grand Slam tournament and is honored.
The tennis showman still had a few spectacular rallies to offer, but in the end, 40-year-old Gael Monfils ran out of steam: The popular Frenchman bid farewell to the Grand Slam stage with a three-set loss in the second round of the U.S. Open. However, he couldn’t resist a little dig at the crowd during his on-court tribute.
“You’re the second-best crowd. Of course, you can’t compare to Paris, but you’re right up there,” Monfils said after his 3-6, 4-6, 3-6 loss to Learner Tien at Louis Armstrong Stadium: “It’s been a long journey. I’ve felt all the love this year.”
The Parisian, who has won the hearts of many fans with his spectacular style of play, will retire at the end of the current season. In New York, he was presented with a commemorative photo, among other things. Earlier in the tournament, a similar tribute was paid to 41-year-old Stan Wawrinka, who is also retiring at the end of the season.
In the first round, Monfils once again thrilled the crowd during his 18th appearance in New York. For his 40th birthday, he gave himself the best gift possible by defeating Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in three sets. Afterward, the entire arena sang him a birthday song.
Monfils, who began his professional career in 2004 and rose to No. 6 in the world rankings, reached the semifinals in Paris in 2008 and at the U.S. Open in 2016.
